According to the prosecution, ATC also ordered the release of Akhtar. The mayor, however, will remain in jail as he faces around a dozen of more cases and has to first obtain bail in all the cases to get out of jail. He has already been granted bail in three cases.

Akhtar was arrested on July 19 on suspicion of sheltering and providing medical treatment to alleged militants and criminals. He was arrested in several other cases dating back to 2007 when he was the home adviser to the Sindh chief minister.

He was elected the mayor of Karachi in August. Akhtar has said repeatedly in the past that he should be granted bail in the interest of Karachi.